Victims reject £12m offer for rail tragedy

Victims of the Potters Bar rail crash today announced they are threatening legal action against Railtrack, maintenance firm Jarvis and the health and safety executive (HSE).

Seven people were killed and more than 70 injured when the rear coach of a West Anglia Great Northern train derailed at a set of points 150 yards south of Potters Bar station in Hertfordshire on May 10.

Louise Christian, acting on behalf of the families, today told a news conference attended by some of the victims' families that legal proceedings were being anticipated because Railtrack, Jarvis and the HSE had not admitted liability for the crash.

Without that admission, the victims had three years to bring proceedings over liability.

She repeated the bereaved and victims' demands that the government hold a public inquiry into the crash.

"It is incumbent on this government to order an immediate public inquiry," she said.

In August, Railtrack offered to make payments to families, but stressed they were not an admission of liability.

It said it would be reimbursed if another company was found to be responsible following an investigation into the accident by the HSE and British transport police.

Ms Christian said: "Railtrack's offer is unacceptable because it has been made clear that it does not include the legal costs of investigating liability but only the legal costs of investigating quantum.

"We reiterate our demand that the government convene a public inquiry since we do not believe it is fair for the government to stand back and expect the bereaved and injured to establish who was responsible for this terrible disaster."